April 04, 2010

We're Moving ... To New Hampshire!

Yes, indeed. We're moving the sanctuary to New Hampshire. That's what the new place looks like above -- 120 acres of forest and fields, with a pond, spring, a house big enough for both dogs and people, a huge barn, and a 5-bay equipment shed. It's located in Lancaster, in the northern part of the state that everyone there simply calls "the North Country."

You may want to pour yourself a second cup of coffee -- or a second glass of wine, depending on what time of day you're reading this -- because this will be a long post!

Last year was our 10th anniversary here in Ovando, and it made us start thinking about the next 10 years ... and the 10 years after that. Alayne and I are in our early fifties, and we began to ask ourselves, is this where we want to be when we’re in our 60s? In our 70s? We plan to be running this wonderful sanctuary for a long time to come, but is this the right place to do it when we’re that age?

To understand some of our thinking on this, you need to know that we believe gas prices will continue to rise significantly over the next decade or two, simply due to global supply and demand dynamics. And because of our current distance from services — we’re 70 miles (112 km) from vet clinics, grocery stores, banks, etc., so it’s a 140-mile round trip to do anything — the cost to operate the sanctuary from this remote a location will escalate a lot as a result. (It’s gone up a lot already in the 10 years we’ve been here.)

Moreover, as gas prices increase in the future, people will have less discretionary income to spend on things like charitable donations, and nonprofits like ourselves can expect to see downward pressure on revenues over time. Thus from the expense side, we want to reduce our cost structure as much as possible so we can be prepared for this more challenging economic environment. (As if the current economy isn’t challenging enough!) That means moving much closer to services.

We also want to move closer to services and a larger population center for other very important reasons:

First, it will make it easier for us to recruit and retain good employees. We will have a much larger pool of candidates to choose from, and they will be able to work for us without having to relocate. It was always a major problem for us to hire employees here, because most people did not want to move to such a remote area. And of the few who were willing to move out here, most quickly tired of living so far out. They wanted to go out to dinner, see a movie, go on dates ... and that is tough to do when you’re more than an hour away from a town of any size.

Second, being closer to a larger community like Lancaster, which has more than 3,000 people itself and many thousands more in the vicinity — will make it easier to get volunteers. We have been blessed with a dedicated team of fabulous volunteers, but because of our distance from Missoula and Helena, it’s been a pretty small group over the years.

Third, being close to a much larger population will also give us a better opportunity to find and develop people to succeed us some day. As we get into our 60s, that succession plan will become increasingly important.

So how close are we to services in Lancaster? We’re only three miles from the center of town. Yes, even though we have a private, end-of-the-road setting, we’re that close to town. The vet clinic we're going to use is just minutes away.

Another benefit of this kind of proximity is that spending less time on the road gives us more time
back at the ranch getting other work done.

Wait, there's more!

As most long-time blog readers know, we’ve always tried so hard to provide a “home-style” environment here for the animals, so they would feel like family pets and not like they were in an institution of some sort. Because our own home was so small (1,400 square feet, or 130 square meters), that meant constructing several cottages and other buildings, like Widget’s House, to house the dogs. But that also added to our operating costs, because we had all these other separate structures to heat and maintain.

And it meant that a large group of dogs, the ones at Widget’s House, were living separate from us ... something we’ve wanted to change for a long time. So as we explored the idea of a move, we thought a lot about accomplishing two objectives when it came to animal housing:

1) reduce the operating costs for animal housing, while

2) shifting from a “home-style” environment to a true “in-home” environment for all the dogs.

With the property in Lancaster, we managed to do just that! The house is 3,600 square feet and has two wings, one of which is large enough to house all the dogs under one roof — while the other wing is where we will live and where the sanctuary offices will be. The large dogs will go on the first floor (with their own solarium!) and the small dogs on the second floor. There’s also a large corridor (really, an interior wing) connecting the two wings that has tile floors, and that’s where the incontinent dogs will be. The corridor has south-facing windows the entire length and even a ramp coming out the door — perfect for our little Dachshunds like Bailey! This is what the dog wing looks like, and you can see the ramp in this photo:

Here's the inside of the dog wing on the ground floor:

Pretty nice, eh? The amazing thing is that it is almost exactly the same size as Widget's House -- actually, a tad larger!

The upstairs, where the small dogs will go, has a full bathroom, so it will make it easy for bathing and grooming. This is what the "Beagle/Dachshund Annex" looks like:

Between the ground floor and second floor in this wing, we will have more combined space than we have today with our multiple dog cottages here at the ranch.

Something else we're really looking forward to: No more trudging 75 yards (68 m) down the drive at 9 p.m. to head over to Widget’s House to let them out one last time and then put them up for the night. All we’ll have to do is go down the hall! The cats will have their own separate quarters in a heated room in the barn, with big south-facing windows of their own. (They can't be in the house because Alayne is very allergic to cats.)

Here's the outside of the people wing:

Although it looks larger in this view, it's quite a bit smaller than the dog wing, as you can see from this interior view of the living and dining area, taken from the kitchen:

Those beams give you an idea of the history here: This was originally an 1800's farm house, completely restored in the 1980s. The dog wing was added on at that time. A lot of people like that old farm house look with the heavy beams, but it's not really our style ... we're more into clean, modern design, but that's okay!

Here's the kitchen:

This next shot is a wide view of the entire house ... that tree in front we've already named "Bailey's tree," because we can't wait for him to be able to go out and lie on the grass underneath it:

Another way we plan to reduce costs long-term is to become more self-sufficient, and this property gives us much more ability to do that. For instance, we'll be able to use the wood from our own woodlot to heat the buildings with woodstoves. We also want to be able to put up our own hay, which has become increasingly expensive to buy because of rising fuel and fertilizer costs. Out here in the West, you need both sufficient water rights and irrigation equipment to have enough water to produce a hay crop, and we have neither. In New Hampshire, there is plenty of rainfall and no irrigation is necessary. Speaking of feeding hay, grazing season begins in April in New Hampshire, while we can’t begin grazing here until June 1 because of the climate. That’s a lot less hay to feed!

And yes, that climate in New Hampshire was definitely another attraction. Though it’s still “snow country,” it’s a much milder climate than where we are now. I think the day Alayne and I finally decided to get serious about moving, back in December, it was 22 below zero here and 24 above back there. We had just finished scooping poop that morning, our hands were frozen, and we thought, we’ve had enough of this kind of cold! As much as we’ve loved living out here, we realize that dealing with the persistent sub-zero temperatures every winter will not be something we want to do in our 60s and 70s. (We realize it can get sub-zero in New Hampshire but it's not anywhere as extreme as where we are in Montana.)

Here is a view of the 3-story barn that has 7,200 square feet (669 square meters) of space, accessible from both the north and south ends:

Love those garage doors for easy opening in winter! There are garage doors on the other end for the middle floor, too.

This is the equipment shed:

I mentioned a pond at the beginning of this post:

Yes, we will fence it off to make sure no blind dogs or blind horses wander into it. It's fed by a permanent spring that also provides the water to the house and barn.

This is the view from behind the house, taken from the pond ... people wing on left, dog wing on right:

So, why New Hampshire?

We did look at other places around the country — the Pacific Northwest, Virginia, and elsewhere — but the real estate prices for the kind of property we were looking for were by far the most reasonable in New Hampshire and Vermont. (Yes, we looked at many properties in Vermont, too.) This place in New Hampshire was $663,000. Here in Montana, a place like this would have run into the millions of dollars. Also, the fact that New Hampshire has no sales tax will save the sanctuary a lot of money compared to other states we looked at. No personal income tax is another benefit!

We are going as fast as we can to get out of here so we can get this place on the market as soon as possible. (No, we don't know what we're going to be asking for it yet. We're getting it appraised first.) As you can imagine, the logistics of this are daunting -- animals, ranch equipment, supplies, tractors, not to mention our own household goods -- all have to moved. We have lined up haulers to move almost everything, and the first shipment of equipment left last week.

The most difficult thing to plan for was how to move all the dogs and cats. We have hired an outfit that specializes in cross-country ground transportation of pets. We have contracted for their entire fleet of vans and drivers to do this. They are picking up most of the dogs and cats on May 24th. The horses will be leaving the same week. (Yes, and the goats, too.) Alayne will still be here with about 6 dogs, and I will already be back in New Hampshire by then to be on hand to receive the animals. I’ll be taking 8 of the dogs with me. Alayne will stay here for a while to help close up and get it ready to go on the market.

Now, some people will ask whether this move isn't going to be hard on the animals. No, it's not. Most of the animals have come here from distant places, so cross-country travel is not new to them. Moreover, these animals have already overcome significant hardships -- abandoned at shelters and coping with disabilities like blindness or missing limbs. Traveling to New Hampshire will not be a problem for any of them! They will take it in stride, just as they have in overcoming their disabilities.

---

For the next few months ... through June ... our address will continue to be the same. We'll post our new address on the blog when we're officially there. If you have a recurring online donation set up, you won't need to do anything.

---

I'm leaving on Tuesday for New Hampshire with the truck and horse trailer full of stuff -- dog crates, bedding, litter boxes, a few household goods, water tanks for the horses, etc. I will be meeting with a fence company so I can get them started on the dog fencing we need around the house; with the people who will be installing the Internet access; and others.

Because we are particularly swamped as a result of this entire adventure, please hold emails and phone calls if at all possible and use the comments feature on the blog instead. I'm sure there will be quite a few questions -- many of them similar in nature -- and it will make it easier for us to respond on the blog than by individual email or phone call. We are just out of time. I hope you will understand!

---

Please
keep voting
for the ranch in the Shelter Challenge -- and you can
vote every day! We're currently in fourth place and still on
track to
win $3,000 for the animals, but every vote counts! We just slipped from
third place to fourth, so please help round up as many votes as you can
so we can stay in the running for the $3,000. Ask your family and
friends to vote for the ranch, too!

Enter "Rolling Dog Ranch" and
our state
postal code,
MT, for Montana, and it will bring up our listing.

Comments

"How fast can a three-legged dog run?", I asked the day after I brought Danaher (formerly "Cassie") home to Helena from Rolling Dog Ranch in March, 2003. I had taken her across the street to the Capitol grounds for a walk in the snow and had run into a friend who was also walking her dog. It's a big area so we decided to let the dogs off-leash to romp in the snow and get to know one another. I wasn't too concerned about letting Dani off-leash because, after all, how fast can a three-legged dog run? Turns out, as fast as she wants. Dani took off. She had not yet bonded with me and this was an exciting taste of freedom. My friend and I ran opposite directions around the Capitol and finally corralled her as she stopped to sniff something a deer had left behind.

I learned my lesson that day. It's the same message Steve and Alayne will take with them to New Hampshire: disabled animals are not to be underestimated; they are not throw-aways and they don't need/can't use our pity. Like any of us or any "abled" animal, they just need care, kindness, respect, and a chance. As much as the Sanctuary is a haven for the lucky animals who find their way there, it is also immeasurably valuable as a live demonstration of this message.

Dani went on to become a therapy dog, forging an instant connection with nursing home residents who were blind, wheel chair-bound, and suffering from dementia, amputations, and dozens of other debilitating afflictions. Not a throw-away among them.

I am very grateful to Steve and Alayne for bringing Dani and me together and for letting Montana borrow the Sanctuary and its good works (and good press!) for a time. If all of you out East who want to visit and volunteer and work with Rolling Dog join us here in Montana and points beyond in spreading the gospel to friends, neighbors, families, acquaintances, think of the impact we can all make, one Dani at a time!

I've been away for a few days and at first thought this was an April Fools joke, but realized soon after you guys were serious! How wonderful for you! I, too, had been wondering about the frigid winters and the toll it takes on you guys. It sounds like a wonderful property and I'm so excited as maybe now we can come visit with it being so much closer to us! Congratulations!

To Heather Montana and Timmy the Wonder Dog---Yes, RDR made Montana a very special place! All the people on the East Coast are cheering and all the people on the West Coast are crying! (both tears of sadness and joy) I love what you wrote!!

Absolutely fabulous! Divine intervention at work here. You all are going to be so happy and will soon bring unbridled joy and renewed hope to those whose paths you are about to cross. Lab & Dachshund karma. :)

Bittersweet all around and I am sure for you both and all the wonderful people you have befriended in MT. too. You put Montana on the map for a great cause. The town of Lancaster has no idea what is coming their way.

ALL that green grass. WOW. Doggies aren't going to know what to do, that is until they start digging it up :)

BUT most of all I am thrilled that you two will also be able to go to dinner and movie together in the evening and know the kids are safe at home only 3 miles away -- ha ha.

Wow, I was off the blog for a few days & so much exciting news. I am thrilled for you all that you are able to do this so fast & seem to have it so well planned out. I also think it is so smart to do this while you are able to physically make such a big move. The place is beautiful & I'm so happy that the dogs will be part of your home now & make it so much easier to let them in & out to do their business outside. The property just looks gorgeous. Congratulations to all of you & can't wait for the first pic of Bailey under the tree!!! Glad to hear the kitties are getting a pretty cool place to live too!!!

I am happy for ALL of you. Oregon is cold enough with our 25 horses, cats, and dogs to care for. I could not understand how you managed in Montana freezes! I am your age and truly admire the plans you have set up for these dear furbabies! Longer grazing seasons, tax advantages, your own hay, and inside home for the dogs...truly remarkable planning! Best of all wishes as you all transition to your new home!!!

As sad as I am to see you all go, I am also so ecstatic to see such support and understanding from everyone, YEA!!! Love you all for that and so do all the furbabies! I am trying to convince my husband we need a change in our lives and need to move to NH (Lancaster, NH, in particular, ha ha). He gave me a 'hmm' look, so maybe!? The daughter is now 18 and I think my work is now done here in Montana ;)

After my brief conversation with Steve, I was feeling sad about our loss here in Montana to the state of New Hampshire. Then I looked at all the photos and I am so happy for all of you. As I told Steve, I want to continue with the annual raffle quilt so that I can help in a small way with support for your furry family. This year's quilt is under construction and will be our way of saying "Happy Tails To You (all)".

I'm so excited for you! The new homestead in New Hampshire looks fabulous! And I'm even MORE excited because we live in Southern New Hampshire (near Manchester). Maybe we'll come up for a volunteer visit when you're settled!

What a wonderful place this looks like... I feel bad for all those that are close to you in Montana as it will be like losing a friend. But I am happier because it will be easier for me to visit. I'm sure the animals will be extremely happy with their new digs... best of luck with the move and the transition.

I'm absolutely all for it! It looks LOVELY and all of your reasons are prefectly logical. My only regret is that I've been trying to plan a trip to Montana to visit, which is much closer to me than New Hampshire. But, now you're my reason for going to New Hampshire!!!!

Congratulations and best of luck. I've always wondered how you would manage in MT over the years. I think you'll love the new place in NH.

congrats on your new home! Please let those of us who would like to help you with the move know how we can best help -i.e. donations, a hefty supply of doggie cookies and toys for the new place,a gift basket from your favorite goodie place, etc.

Wow! What a huge undertaking - I am so excited for you. The new place is gorgeous and I know it will be a wonderful place for all of you. Praying that everything goes smoothly and that the ranch in Montana sells soon. Big hugs!

Congratulations!! As a resident of Washington state, I feel as though I'm losing a great neighbor and I had hoped to visit the ranch someday--but I think you have made a very intelligent, informed decision. I'm feeling a little bewildered and disoriented that you will soon be located across the country, but I will certainly continue to support you wherever you are!! Good luck to you both and to all the wonderful animals. Your new home is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Wow 106 comments so far. Obviously Rolling Dog Ranch's blog is very popular. And why not! You both do such a wonderful job.
One shouldn't be surprised that you are making a radical move, considering the fact that you both left your careers and home behind in Seattle to move to a ranch in rural MT to start a nonprofit for disabled animals. Whew!! What all you have accomplished since then.
Once again you are thinking outside of the box.
I will miss the fact that you are but 8 hours east of my home. I love MT but ......while the winters are beautiful they are harsh. Harsh on humans and harsh on animals.
I know that you and your lovely crew of animals will be embraced by your new community.
Have a safe journey. Best of luck in selling your place in MT.

I'M A FAIRLY NEW VISITOR TO YOUR WEBSITE & I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO. I THOUGHT THAT YOU HAD THE BEST PLACE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR HOME IN MONTANA BUT I SEE NOW YOUR NEW HOME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL BE EVEN MORE PERFECT. YOU SEEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING PRETTY WELL COVERED & THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THE MOVE & THE AFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON YOU & YOUR ANIMAL FAMILY. I WISH YOU THE BEST WITH YOUR MOVE & NEW HOME. THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS DAUNTING BUT YOU MADE IT SOUND SO EASY EVEN THO I'M SURE IT WILL BE ANYTHING BUT.

I echo everyone's sentiments and know NH will be perfect for you and your future plans. I'm in my 60s and can relate in a small way to some of the problems you've outlined. I'm on the east coast, so maybe my dream of visiting RDR might become a reality now! Keeping Alayne and you and your lucky charges in my prayers. -m.j.

Oh What a beautiful place and so happy for you. But it really made me homesick for PA and the upper east coast. Living in NE now where it lacks the trees and mountains and the wildlife we had living on our 10 acres of woods.
I had hoped to come up to MT this summer but maybe will be able to visit in NH. Congratulations. And best wishes with the move.
Sounds like a wonderful plan and will be anxious to hear the updates. Take care.
KL

I was in the USA for a week on business and missed a couple of posts--the world has shifted! Good for you both--living in the prairies I know what those winter temperatures feel like and how it's hard to get going some mornings when it just seems too cold to go out. (Also in my late 50's) I'm so happy to see your wonderful new home and I envy the dogs all those beautiful hardwood floors! I've always wanted to visit New Hampshire--I hope that you will be able to offer a few tour days in the summers so that we RDR devotees can visit and express our thanks in person.
Mojo the blind senior poodle continues his new life in Winnipeg and survived his first prairie winter fairly well. There were a few days when he seemed stunned by the cold after emigrating from the Seattle area. I'm so happy for you both and relieved that you will be taking care of yourselves. Montana was beautiful but those long drives in poor weather worried me a lot, hearing about Steve taking animals to the vet while Alayne kept things going at home. Congratulations!

Part of my love of being in Montana has been knowing you made this State a better place. You and Alayne are simply the best. Montana is losing the best. The people and volunteers are losing the best. It is crushing.

Do I understand? Yes. Do I wish you the absolute infinite best? Always. That State has no idea how lucky it is. The animals and volunteers in the area have no idea how much their lives are about to be enriched and changed forever- as you have touched and changed mine (and so many others) in the time I spent with you as well as followed and supported all that you do. You don't just help animals. You open and heal people's hearts and minds too.

I love you both. I will miss you HORRIBLY.
I support you ALWAYS.
Love,
Heather Montana (and Timmy the Wonder Dog).

This place is so gorgeous. I love it and I am sure the furbabies will also. The better weather will be such a blessing and you are so smart to think that far ahead. I often wondered how you would manage all that work when you go older. I know you will still have a lot of work but it seems like it will be much better now. All of you are so lucky. I am jealous. Congrats.

Bless you, kids, I have been thinking about your future as well - you are doing great!! Beautiful new home for the rescue and at such a fabulous price. The moving and setting up will be gruelling for you, but so worthwhile. Well done.

Wow! What a surprise and what a beautiful spot! I love the big tree out front and especially the view of the pond and beyond. My first thought was how sad the blind animals won't be able to see it, but then I felt - they will be able to FEEL the peace and beauty surrounding them. I'm impressed with how well thought out your plan is and with the look to the future - both for yourselves and the shelter. I'm from the Seattle area (grew up in Edmonds, now live in Marysville) and have really telling friends about you two and your story. I've learned so much about special needs animals from your stories - our neighbors adopted a beagle with one eye and he is a HAPPY guy! My teenage daughters and I have volunteered at our local equine rescue - when we started there was a blind appaloosa and they have had horses with one eye also. We have 8 indoor cats rescued from our own backyard (left by a feral momma), all bottlefed and healthy to date - they showed up a few months after my husband of 27 yrs left 6 yrs ago and have given us the gift of laughter and love ,helping us find our way through divorce and beyond. We'll look forward to keeping up with the huge process of moving on...I really enjoy your stories and photos - our thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Wow!!! I've been out of the country for a week and thought I would check the RDR blog before heading to bed. This is wonderful news for you all. I must admit I feel a bit sad, I had grown very attached to Ovando. However, visiting RDR has been my dream for many years and now it may well become a reality!

WOW!!!! Congratulations...the new place is awesome....I love that the dogs will be "in the House" with you and Alayne. I am also sad because now you two and all those very special animals will be clear on the other side of this great country. I was thinking that maybe I could come and visit this summer (visiting RDR is on my bucket list, actually right at the top, so perhaps another year. I'll be praying for a speedy,safe and well organized move for everyone. God Bless you for all you do,you two are such very special people...God Speed!!!

What a GREAT new ADVENTURE for all of you. You share so much with all of us,and make us feel like part of your family!Best of luck to all of you in the weeks ahead,the place looks so beautiful,will you keep the same name? For all of you this looks like a heaven on earth place, and you are doing it at a perfect time in your life so you will get to enjoy it.I admire all you have done and continue to do, you animal are so lucy to have you!Bless you in your travels.

Well! I'll echo Leila, just a bit: I was also feeling a little sad, even though we're way south in Arizona, but...New Hampshire is much farther away! But who knows? Maybe we can combine a trip to visit you, one of these days, with a trip to visit grandkids in Maine!

I did fall in love with the new place, from the pictures. We see so little green, around here, that we practically salivate over pic's like those! And to have all the dogs actually in the house with you will be priceless, I know. You're so smart to do this, now, instead of waiting until you are in your 60's or 70's. I've sometimes wondered how you would ever find someone to take over for you, when you need to retire.

So we wish you guys the very best! I do hope someone who lives closer and has the time will be able to help you with driving between Ovando and NH; it just seems like a good thing to have two drivers, but maybe that's just me.

We'll still keep following you and the animals through the blog, and if the economy ever turns around enough, we will resume contributing. As the Laconians said, "IF."

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is slightly saddened by this news. I was very happy to tell all my friends that the coolest animal sanctuary was in Montana. We will miss you, but NH seems to be an excellent choice- it's a beautiful house!

Wow. Just Wow. What a busy spring you have ahead of you. Looking forward to the blog posts as you make discoveries about your new home. I'm glad you're thinking of the future as well.
I have to say, I was surpised that the land in MT would be so much higher than a more crowded N.H. (!)

What was this place before? a personal home?

Also, I bet you are sad to leave your wonderful vets behind, and they will be sad to lose you too. Your animals have gotten such amazing care over the years. Kudos to them.

Hang in there during these crazy few months. We'll all be out here thinking of you guys!

Wow, I'm in shock! So amazingly happy for you and Alayne and all the animals, but as many have already said, for some unexplainable reason I'm sad at the same time....you will be clear on the other side of the country! We had hoped to come visit the ranch this summer, but don't guess we'll be able to do that now that you're moving. Know that we plan to continue our support of you, in friendship, prayers, and financially, no matter where you go. You are always in our hearts. We will be praying for a smooth and non-problematic move and an easy adjustment time for everyone. Looks like a beautiful place and we are glad that things will be a bit easier for you now. Congrats!

I will be in BEAUTIFUL New Hampshire and Vermont in mid-July so I am hoping I can maybe stop by and see you! You will love it there. I always wanted to come visit the ranch but Ovando seemed way to remote of a possibility.